Basketball backboard and horizontally movable basket



Nov. 11, 1969 w, M. GARLINGTON 7 BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE BASKET Filed Oct. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Fzytf.

INVENT OR WILL 1AM M. GARLl/VG TON ATTORNEY;

Nov. 11, 1969 w, GARLINGTON 3,477,714

BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE BASKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1965 1 I Q 242%, "In J hlll ' INVENTOR WILL/AM M. 6ARL 1N6 TON BYWMWW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,477,714 BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE BASKET, William M. Garlington, 1245 Ann Ave., Kansas City, Kans. 661(12 Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,375

Int. Cl. A63b 63/04 U.S. Cl. 273-15 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game in which a conventional basketball game basket including a rigid hoop or ring is located 'in horizontal position and travels in a lineal path back and forth for the same distance in each direction and without vertical rocking or tilting motion for the purpose of rendering it more diflicult for players to loop a basketball through the basket ring. a

This invention relates to improvements in games, such as basketball, butwith improvements thereto whereby it is rendered more difficult to score than with conventional basketball-equipment.

A further object of this invention is the provision of game equipment having many of the characteristics of conventional basketball game equipment but having means rendering it more difficult for a player to drop the ball into the basket due to the fact that the basket is movable across a backboard for the purpose of testing the skill and ability of a player in the matter of timing.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved basketball game partaking of the characteristics of conventional basketball equipment in that a conventional basketball is used with a conventional basket and backboard, but in which the basket is rectilinearly moved back and forth across the backboard, rendering it more difficult to hit the basket for scoring.

It is a well known fact that skilled basketball players have no difiiculty in scoring. It is quite common for teams in competition to each secure high scores. It is therefore a purpose of this invention to activate the hasket. In other words, considerable additional skill is required of the players which, in addition to solving the problems of speed and direction, requires precise timing for the player to hit the moving basket for scoring purposes. With this type of equipment greater interest will be created for spectators and the scoring of the sides will remain in much lower brackets than with conventional basketball equipment.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of the frame structure and backboard of basketball equipment, illustrating the basket suspended thereby upon improved means which enable the basket to linearly move in a reciprocatory path.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the equipment shown in FIG. 1 showing also the basket operating means at the rear of the backboard.

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the mechanism at the rear of the backboard showing the means for moving the hasket linearly.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 3, showing the reverse thread type of driving shaft used for conveying the basket in a reciprocatory manner at the front of the backboard.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged cross sectional views taken substantially on the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a key used with the means for moving the basket across the front of the backboard.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the improved basketball equipment. It preferably includes supporting framework which may vary, and as shown, may include the supporting struts 11, as shown in FIG. 3, adjustably connected at 12 to the rear of the backboard 13. For purposes to be subsequently described, the backboard 13 is provided with an opening 14 of rectangular elongated horizontal shape extending therethrough from front to back.

The basket 15 is conventional, including a hoop or ringshaped portion 16 and netting 17, if desired. The same includes the rearwardly extending portion 17* provided with means 18 to detachably connect it to a supporting arm 19. The arm 19 is adapted to extend transversely through the backboard opening 14 and supports the hasket at the front of the backboard as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This arm 19 and the basket are adapted to travel linearly across the backboard. To that end, the means for such accomplishment comprises a driven shaft 20 which is reversely threaded at 21, much in the same manner as in a level-wind fishing reel. The shaft 20 is supported in bearings 22 mounted upon brackets 23 which are secured at 24 to the rear of the backboard, as shown in FIG. 4. The reverse threaded shaft 20 rotata-bly extends through an opening 30 in the basket supporting arm 19, as shown in FIG. 6. The arm 19 supports a key or nut 31 in the opening 32 in the arm 19 and is provided with an arcuate key projection 33 which extends into the threads relatively reversely positioned 21. The key 31, of course, is permitted to oscillate according to the relative angle or degree of the opposite threading on the shaft 20 and it is so constructed that it is detachably held in place by a plate or latch 35, as shown in FIG. 6.

Guide means to support the basket arm 19 is provided. It consists of a stationary frame including a horizontal guide rail 60 supported on the rear of the backboard 13 by brackets 61; these brackets rigidly positioning the guide rail on a definite axis parallel to the plane of the backboard. The arm 19 is provided with a vertically positioned connecting member 62 having .a top sleeve 63 which embraces the guide rail 60 and slides therealong. At its lower end the member 62 is detachably connected as at 64 to the arm 19 between the reversibly threaded screw member 20 and backboard 13.

The shaft 20 is rotated at the desired speed by means of an electric motor 40 mounted on a shelf or bracket 41, secured to the rear of the backboard 13. A drive shaft 42 of the motor 40 is provided with a pulley and a belt 43 trained thereover which is also trained around a pulley 45 keyed on the shaft 20 as shown in FIG. 4. The electrical wiring for the motor 40 designated at 50, is extended into a box 51 wherein a spring actuated roller (not shown) may be provided, if desired, for supporting an extension cord 52 having switch means 53 at the end thereof to permit current control flow to the motor 40.

The operation of the improved basketball game equipment will be apparent from the foregoing. Means must be provided to insure that the shaft 20 rotates at the proper rotation for degree of movement of the basket across the backboard. With the switch onthe motor rotates the shaft 20 and through the key or nut 31 the arm 19 is fed along the opening 14 and therewith the hasket 15 is moved. The basket 15 moves horizontally and does not vary as to distance between the backboard and the opening of the hoop 16.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the improved basketball game presents hazards to easy scoring which are not present in conventional basketball equipment. Greater skill and ability in required upon the part of the players and precision in timing and coordination of speed and direction are important in order that players from varied distances upon the floor can throw a ball into the basket.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In basketball game equipment the combination of a backboard, means for supporting the backboard in vertical position, horizontal guide means mounted to the rear of the backboard, a traveling frame mounted on the guide means for reciprocatory horizontal travel therealong, a motor, a basketball basket mounted in position on the traveling frame and located at the front of the backboard, and means connecting the motor with the traveling frame to reciprocate the traveling frame in a definite horizontal nontilting path of the same predeterminecflength in each direction.

2. The basketball game of claim 1 in which the last mentioned means includes a horizontal shaft provided with reverse spiral threads rotatably supported by the backboard, key means operating in the reverse threads of the shaft for reciprocatory travel therealong as the shaft rotates, the key means being supported by said traveling frame for travel therewith.

3. In a basketball game equipment the combination of a backboard having a horizontal opening therethrough, a basketball basket located at the front of the backboard and having an arm rigidly connected therewith which extends through said opening to the rear of the backboard, a horizontal shaft provided with relatively reversed threads rotatably supported in horizontal position upon the rear of said back-board, key means mounted on said arm and slidably extended into said reverse threads for travel along said threads as the shaft rotates for linearly reciprocating the basket in a horizontal nontilting position at the front of the backboard, motor means to rotate the shaft in one direction of rotation, and guide means mounted on the backboard for supporting said arm and the key against rotation about said shaft as they travel along the backboard.

4. In a basketball game equipment the combination of a vertical backboard, a basket including a ring through which a player can loop a basketball for goal scoring purposes, means mounting the ring at the front of the board in horizontal position including means for reciprocatory horizontal linearly nontilting movement of the ring relative to said backboard for the same length of travel in each direction, and motor means for operating said last mentioned means.

5. The basketball game equipment of claim 4 in which the means for reciprocatory movement of the ring includes a horizontal rotary shaft with reverse threads thereon mounted on the backboard, and a key operating in said threads and connected to the ring for lineal travel therewith in a nonrotatably relation about said shaft.

6. The basketball game equipment of claim 5 in which guide means is provided on the backboard for slidably supporting the key and ring for reciprocatory nonrotary travel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 135,283 1/1873 Noe 24 84.42 3,089,703 5/1963 Wolverton et al. 273-1052 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,199 2/1961 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner PAUL E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273-405 .2 

